MSI Z170A GAMING M3 (MS-7978)

Performance Results

Benchmarks - missing SSD
Gaming 0% Incomplete	Desktop 0% Incomplete	Workstation 0% Incomplete


PC Status	Overall this PC is performing as expected (42nd percentile). This means that out of 100 PCs with exactly the same components, 58 performed better. The overall PC percentile is the average of each of its individual components.
Processor	With a below average single core score, this CPU can handle email, web browsing and audio/video playback but it will struggle to handle modern 3D games or workstation tasks such as video editing. Finally, with a gaming score of 38.9%, this CPU's suitability for 3D gaming is poor.
Graphics	19.4% is a below average 3D score (RTX 2060S = 100%). This GPU can handle older games but it will struggle to render recent games at resolutions greater than 1080p. (Note: general computing tasks don't require 3D graphics)
Memory	16GB is enough RAM to run any version of Windows and it's more than sufficient for nearly all games. 16GB also allows for very large file and system caches, software development and batch photo editing/processing.
OS Version	Although Windows 10 is not the most recent version of Windows, it remains a great option.

Sub-optimal background CPU (13%). High background CPU reduces benchmark accuracy. How to reduce background CPU.

Run History

4 years ago, 4 years ago, 4 years ago.

System	MSI MS-7978
Motherboard	MSI Z170A GAMING M3 (MS-7978) (all builds)
Memory	12.7 GB free of 16 GB @ 2.1 GHz
Display	1920 x 1080 - 32 Bit colors
OS	Windows 10
BIOS Date	20180704
Uptime	0.2 Days
Run Date	Oct 04 '19 at 23:00
Run Duration	141 Seconds
Run User	DEU-User
Background CPU	13%

PC Performing as expected (42^nd percentile)

Actual performance vs. expectations. The graphs show user score (x) vs user score frequency (y).

Processor	Bench	Normal	Heavy	Server
Intel Core i7-6700K-$180 588,978 User benchmarks, average bench 81% U3E1, 1 CPU, 4 cores, 8 threads Base clock 4 GHz, turbo 0.8 GHz (avg) Performing way below expectations (1^st percentile)	38.9% Below average	Memory 62.9 1-Core 25.4 2-Core 50.7 32% 46.3 Pts	4-Core 82.3 8-Core 137 13% 110 Pts	64-Core 132 8% 132 Pts
Poor: 70% ↑ This bench: 38.9% Great: 90%

Graphics Card	Bench	3D DX9	3D DX10	3D DX11
Nvidia GTX 750-Ti-$92 309,423 User benchmarks, average bench 17% Palit(1569 1380) 2GB CLim: 1476 MHz, MLim: 1502 MHz, Ram: 2GB, Driver: 436.30 Performing way above expectations (99^th percentile)	19.4% Very poor	Lighting 24 Reflection 18.9 Parallax 22.9 20% 21.9 fps	MRender 28.5 Gravity 24.8 Splatting 19 19% 24.1 fps
Poor: 16% ↑ This bench: 19.4% Great: 19%

Drives	Bench	Sequential	Random 4k	Deep queue 4k
Samsung 850 Evo 250GB-$100 951,591 User benchmarks, average bench 103% 16GB free (System drive) Firmware: EMT01B6Q Relative performance n/a - sequential test incomplete		Read 449 Write 434 Mixed 358 92% 414 MB/s	4K Read 29.7 4K Write 48.5 4K Mixed 35.7 116% 38 MB/s	DQ Read 231 DQ Write 208 DQ Mixed 218 164% 219 MB/s
Poor: 72% Great: 124%
TOSHIBA External USB 3.0 2TB 3,128 User benchmarks, average bench 30% 652GB free, PID a00c Operating at USB 3.0 Speed SusWrite @10s intervals: 85 84 85 85 85 85 MB/s Performing above expectations (63^rd percentile)	34.7% Below average	Read 79.2 Write 79.7 Mixed 32 SusWrite 84.7 92% 68.9 MB/s	4K Read 0.5 4K Write 1.5 4K Mixed 0.7 77% 0.9 MB/s
Poor: 13% ↑ This bench: 34.7% Great: 44%

Memory Kit	Bench	Multi core	Single core	Latency
G.SKILL Value DDR4 2400 C15 2x8GB 9,293 User benchmarks, average bench 73% 2 of 4 slots used 16GB DIMM DDR4 clocked @ 2133 MHz Performing way below expectations (4^th percentile)	47% Average	MC Read 17.4 MC Write 16.2 MC Mixed 20.5 52% 18 GB/s	SC Read 6.2 SC Write 9.8 SC Mixed 8.6 23% 8.2 GB/s	Latency 119 34% 119 ns
Poor: 53% ↑ This bench: 47% Great: 87%

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System Memory Latency Ladder

L1/L2/L3 CPU cache and main memory (DIMM) access latencies in nano seconds

Custom PC Builder (Explore upgrades for this PC) Build your perfect PC: compare component prices, popularity, speed and value for money

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GPU

SSD

HDD

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MBD

Typical Z170A GAMING M3 (MS-7978) Builds (Compare 2,320 builds) See popular component choices, score breakdowns and rankings

Gaming 51%

Yacht

Desktop 87%

Aircraft carrier

Workstation 44%

Speed boat

Motherboard: MSI Z170A GAMING M3 (MS-7978) - $150

CPU
Core i7-6700KIntel $180Bench 81%, 588,978 samples	822x
Core i5-6600KIntel $130Bench 72%, 342,244 samples	633x
Core i7-6700Intel $180Bench 72%, 282,363 samples	227x

GPU
GTX 1060-6GBNvidia $117Bench 56%, 1,368,019 samples	316x
GTX 1070Nvidia $132Bench 80%, 1,459,281 samples	308x
GTX 970Nvidia $200Bench 49%, 834,238 samples	223x

SSD
850 Evo 250GBSamsung $100Bench 103%, 951,591 samples	117x
850 Evo 500GBSamsung $94Bench 112%, 695,664 samples	74x
970 Evo Plus NVMe PCIe M.2 1TBSamsung $95Bench 310%, 455,997 samples	55x

RAM
Vengeance LPX DDR4 3000 C15 2x8GBCorsair $45Bench 82%, 606,405 samples	98x
Ripjaws V DDR4 2400 C15 2x8GBG.SKILL $31Bench 71%, 98,777 samples	83x
Fury DDR4 2133 C14 2x8GBHyperX $125Bench 73%, 59,072 samples	71x

EDIT WITH CUSTOM PC BUILDER

Value: 85% - Excellent

Total price: $591

CPU	GPU	SSD
Intel Core i5-13600K $254	Nvidia RTX 4060 $289	Crucial MX500 250GB $39
Intel Core i5-12400F $133	Nvidia RTX 4060-Ti $385	Samsung 850 Evo 120GB $80
Intel Core i5-12600K $168	Nvidia RTX 4070 $550	Samsung 860 Evo 250GB $52

HDD	RAM	USB
Seagate Barracuda 1TB (2016) $39	Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 3200 C16 2x8GB $39	SanDisk Extreme 64GB $72
WD Blue 1TB (2012) $32	Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 3000 C15 2x8GB $45	SanDisk Extreme 32GB $28
Seagate Barracuda 2TB (2016) $62	G.SKILL Trident Z DDR4 3200 C14 4x16GB $351	SanDisk Ultra Fit 32GB $16